WALTHAM, Mass. – Three days after one of the most dramatic games in program history, the Brandeis University men's basketball team had an easier time with their opponents from down Route 30, as the Judges defeated visiting Lasell University, 88-44, in Red Auerbach Arena tonight. With the win, the Judges improve to 5-2 on the season, while the Lasers fall to 4-3.
The 44-point margin of victory was the largest in the three-season tenure of head coach Jean Bain. It is tied for the fifth-largest in program history and is the biggest win for a Brandeis team since 2013-14, when they defeated Curry, 111-59, on Nov. 15, 2013.
The Judges had their best shooting night of the season so far, hitting 57% from the field (31-54) and 47% from 3-point range (14-30). The 14 3-pointers came from seven different players and were the most Brandeis has hit in a game since they hit 14 in an ECAC Tournament game against Marywood College on March 1, 2019. They also outrebounded Lasell, 39-22.
Three players scored in double figures for the Judges, led by first-year forward Toby Harris (Durham, N.C. / Durham Acad.), who scored a career-high 20 points. Harris hit 6-of-8 overall, 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Graduate student Collin Sawyer (New London, Conn./New London) added 16 points, vaulting himself into the Judges' career top-25 in scoring with 1092 points. Twelve of those points came on four 3-pointers, giving him 192 for his career and sole possession of fifth place on the Brandeis career list.
Senior center Nolan Hagerty (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Classmate forward Chandler Jones (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Commonwealth Academy) led the team with nine rebounds off the bench, giving him 551 for his career, good for sole possession of 19th place. Senior guard Sam Nassar (Milford, Conn. / Jonathan Law) led the Judges with a career-high six assists, as Brandeis had 24 helpers on their 31 baskets. In all, 11 of the 12 active players on the Brandeis roster scored points.
Lasell was led by senior EJ Day, who tallied 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, 2-of-6 from beyond the arc and 3-of-6 from the line. He also had a game-high five steals. Kevin Handerhorst added nine points and a team-high four rebounds. No other Laser player had more than seven points, three rebounds or two assists.
Brandeis will wrap up its fall semester schedule on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. when they take on Colby College in a non-conference game. Lasell hosts Dean College on Saturday at 4 p.m. in a GNAC contest.